2018 Innovations That Inspire Honorees Announced

Tampa, Fla. USA (April 17, 2018)—In response to rapid global change, business schools are no longer educating students about the ways of the world; they are educating them for a world that does not yet exist. Bold and innovative approaches to leadership development are key to their success. Today, AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) recognized 30 global institutions that are defining what it means to lead in the face of uncertainty and cultivating that winning skill set in the next generation of business leaders.

The third annual Innovations That Inspire challenge recognizes institutions from around the world serving as champions of change in the business education landscape, with a specific focus on innovation in leadership development—a key pillar of the accreditation process and one of five opportunities identified in AACSB’s Collective Vision for business education.

“The biggest risk to business schools is not the rapid pace of change; it is in failing to prepare the next generation of business leaders to cope with that change,” said Thomas R. Robinson, president and CEO of AACSB. “Teaching students to adapt is the best return on investment we can provide, which is why I’m incredibly proud to celebrate these 30 institutions that are implementing best-in-class leadership development programs that will ensure our future leaders are ready for whatever lies ahead.”

The 2018 Innovations That Inspire honorees are acknowledged for their leadership development achievements across three distinct areas:

• Strengthening the Understanding of Effective Leadership Development:
  Business schools are partnering with industry to gather data-driven insights on the most effective leadership practices and approaches. In partnership with P&G, the University of Florida Warrington College of Business offers an experiential learning initiative that encourages students to apply key leadership principles such as emotional intelligence, team leadership, and influence.
• Enhancing Approaches to Leadership Education and Development:
  Inside and outside of the classroom, business schools are creating nontraditional and sometimes cross-disciplinary opportunities for students to hone their leadership skills. In New Zealand, Victoria University of Wellington’s Victoria Business School takes students on a virtual fieldtrip to Fiji to learn about sustainable development while confronting the realities that emerge when a business development is planned.
• Cultivating the Business School Leadership Pipeline:
  Business schools are applying the practices of leadership development to coaching the current and future leaders in academia to think more strategically across the academic enterprise. Lagos Business School’s Young Talents Program is addressing the shortage of academics across Africa by inviting students to participate in a mentorship program that introduces the career of business education research and teaching.

For an overview of all featured innovations, visit www.aacsb.edu/innovations-that-inspire.

About AACSB International

As the world’s largest business education alliance, AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) connects educators, students, and business to achieve a common goal: to create the next generation of great leaders. Synonymous with the highest standards of excellence since 1916, AACSB provides quality assurance, business education intelligence, and professional development services to more than 1,600 member organizations and more than 800 accredited business schools worldwide. With its global headquarters in Tampa, Florida, USA; Europe, Middle East, and Africa headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore, AACSB’s mission is to foster engagement, accelerate innovation, and amplify impact in business education. For more information, visit aacsb.edu.